OL2000: (CW) Microsoft Fax Does Not Process Dialing Properties (198138)

RESOLUTION

For Microsoft Fax to process the modem dialing properties, there must be a +1 in front of the telephone number in the Fax field. The long distance prefix of +1 forces the modem dialing properties to evaluate the telephone number. The number should follow this format:

   +1 (555)555-5555
				

There are two methods of solving this problem.

• Prior to initially entering the fax numbers in your Outlook contacts, you can set Outlook to automatically enter a +1 in the Fax number field as you enter new local and long-distance telephone numbers. This method affects all telephone numbers, not just fax numbers.
  
  NOTE: Outlook will automatically insert your default area code when you enter a 7-digit phone number in contacts. If you wish to prevent Outlook from inserting an area code, enter a comma (,) before the 7-digit number.
• If you need to modify existing contact fax numbers, you will have to modify the records manually. Or, use the macro below in a batch modification. The code example will only modify Fax numbers; it will not modify other types of phone numbers.

Setting Outlook to Enter +1 for All New Fax Entries

To begin all new telephone numbers with a +1, follow these steps:

1. Start Outlook and open the default Contacts folder.
2. On the Actions menu, point to Call Contact, and then click New Call.
3. Click Dialing Options.
4. Click to select the Automatically add country code to local phone number check box, click OK, and then click Close.

NOTE: Whenever you add a new telephone number to a contact, Outlook will add a +1 prefix and Microsoft Fax will properly process the modem dialing properties. This method effects all telephone numbers, not just fax numbers.

VBScript to Modify Existing Fax Numbers

Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language being demonstrated and the tools used to create and debug procedures. Microsoft support professionals can help explain the functionality of a particular procedure, but they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality or construct procedures to meet your specific needs. If you have limited programming experience, you may want to contact a Microsoft Certified Partner or the Microsoft fee-based consulting line at (800) 936-5200. For more information about Microsoft Certified Partners, please visit the following Microsoft Web site: For more information about the support options that are available and about how to contact Microsoft, visit the following Microsoft Web site: This method adds a +1 to every fax number in the selected folder. Telephone numbers that are not fax numbers remain unchanged. To automatically modify your existing fax numbers, using Outlook Visual Basic for Applications, follow these steps:

1. Open the Contacts folder that contains the contact fax numbers that you want to modify.
2. In the Macro Name box, type AddPlusOneToFaxNumber, and then click Create. This starts the Visual Basic Editor and automatically creates a subroutine for you.
3. Type the following lines of code so that the Visual Basic for Applications procedure appears as follows:

   Sub AddPlusOneToFaxNumbers()
      
      Dim oCurFolder As Outlook.MAPIFolder
      Dim oItems As Outlook.Items
      Dim oItem As Object
      Dim iCount As Integer
      Dim iCountBeforeChanges As Integer
      Dim sBusiness As String
      Dim sHome As String
      Dim sOther As String
      
      MsgBox "This process may take a while. " & _
         "You will receive a message when it is complete."
      
      ' Use whichever folder is currently selected
      Set oCurFolder = ActiveExplorer.CurrentFolder
      
      ' Reference the items in the folder
      Set oItems = oCurFolder.Items
      
      iCount = 0
      
      ' Loop through the items in the folder
      For Each oItem In oItems
      
         ' Make sure the item is not a distribution list
         If TypeName(oItem) = "ContactItem" Then
         
            ' Get the fax numbers
            sBusiness = oItem.BusinessFaxNumber
            sHome = oItem.HomeFaxNumber
            sOther = oItem.OtherFaxNumber
            
            iCountBeforeChanges = iCount
         
            ' If BusinessFaxNumber is not blank, add +1
            If sBusiness <> "" And InStr(sBusiness, "+1") = 0 Then
               oItem.BusinessFaxNumber = "+1 " & sBusiness
               iCount = iCount + 1
            End If
            
            ' If HomeFaxNumber is not blank, add +1
            If sHome <> "" And InStr(sHome, "+1") = 0 Then
               oItem.HomeFaxNumber = "+1 " & sHome
               iCount = iCount + 1
            End If
            
            ' If OtherFaxNumber is not blank, add +1
            If sOther <> "" And InStr(sOther, "+1") = 0 Then
               oItem.OtherFaxNumber = "+1 " & sOther
               iCount = iCount + 1
            End If
                
            ' Save the updated contact if it changed
            If iCountBeforeChanges <> iCount Then oItem.Save
            
         End If
         
      Next
      
      MsgBox iCount & " fax number(s) modified. Process done."
      
   End Sub
   					

4. On the File menu, point to Macro, and then click Macros.
5. Click the AddPlusOneToContacts macro, and then click Run.